Finland signed second phase of farming program in Myanmar

On 12 December, Finland, Germany and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Myanmar Country Programme have signed agreements for a total of 6.1 million euro to extend a develop program for farmers in Myanmar.

Photo: Embassy of Finland in Yangon

The first phase of the program ran from 2016 – 2018, while the second phase will run until December 2022.

Co-funded by Finland and Germany, the project’s objective is to help farmers in targeted communities to move to coffee production as a viable alternative to opium cultivation.

The communities are made up of 60 villages across three townships of Hopong, Loilen and Ywangan in southern Shan State.

In addition to supporting a legal economy and sustainable livelihoods, the project prioritizes environmental objectives through a reforestation program.

Simultaneously, it promotes gender equality through consistent inclusion of women in management roles.